Pencil holder and sharpener



- March 21, 1950 A, F, STONE 2,501,295

PENCIL HOLDER AND SHARPENER Filed March 28, 1946 .ZiIYJZane IN VEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED stares; rarest OFFICE PENCIL HOLDER ANlD SHARPENER Albert F. Stone, Stockton, Calif.

Application March 28, 1946, Serial No. 657,675 1 Claim. (orizo-ss) My present invention relates to an improved pencil holder and sharpener of the type adapted to form an exterior finger grip for the pencil and at the same time to provide an ever present and ready sharpener for the pencil point.

The invention consists generally in a tubular grip and an interior cutter. The pencil is retained within the grip by a helical spring, and rotation of the pencil within the grip will effect the sharpening of the point.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention according to the best mode I have thus far devised but it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made in the exemplified structure within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the grip and sharpener of my invention, a retracting spring for the pencil being shown in full lines in the position assumed thereby when the pencil is extended, and in dotted lines in its position when the pencil is retracted.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken at line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the cutter.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 5 is a modified form of the cutter; and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail I have illustrated a tubular or cylindrical finger grip 2 having an annular flange 4 at one end and tapering at the other end as at 8 to a point. A lead opening 8 is formed in the tapered end 6, and a slot It permits the passage therethrough of the lead and wood shavings when the sharpener is operated.

The sharpener consists in a ring l2 within the grip 2 and located at the edge of the taper 6. The ring is riveted or otherwise attached to the grip as at I 3, and the ring is also fashioned with a tapered extension 16. The tapered extension is cut away as at [8 and 20, and the remaining segment may be formed with an angle between the two edges l8 and 20 of any degree between 180 degrees and 90 degrees. In the illustrations of Figures 3 and 5 respectively I have shown 180 degrees and 90 degrees but it will be apparent that the degree of the angle may be varied as desired.

The edge 20 is beveled as shown to form a cutting edge 2! and at the extremity of the taper I provide a notch 22 to receive the protruding end of the lead from the sharpened pencil.

Within the tubular casing I position, between ring 12 and flange 4, a helical spring 24, the convolutions of which are preferably compressed at one end as shown in Figure 1. The spring is not secured within the casing.

To insert a pencil 26, the pencil is turned in a direction opposite from that required for sharpening, and is moved toward the cutter.

mally grip the pencil, but not so tightly as to prevent its entry therethrough under manual urging. When so inserted to a desired extent,

continued forward urging of the pencil brings the spring against ring 1 2 and compresses the spring. The pencil, then, is turned in an opposite direction to sharpen it and the spring turns with it. To retain the lead 23 in its projecting position, it is necessary only to cause the cutter to bite into the wood. To retract the lead, the pencil is turned sufi'lciently to destroy this engagement and spring 24, tending to expand to its normal position, retracts the pencil to the necessary extent.

As the point of the lead 23 wears down, several turns of the pencil while gripping the casing will enable the cutter to further shave the tapered end of the pencil until the desired length of point protrudes. To remove the pencil from the casing, a slight rotation of the pencil with relation to the grip in a direction opposite to that of the sharpening movement will relieve the tension of the spring and permit the extraction of the pencil.

It will be understood that the casing or tube 2 remains on the pencil and the exterior thereof forms a grip for the pencil. As the pencil is worn down to the point of exhaustion, a new pencil may be employed with the same grip.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device of the character described comprising a tubular casing including a flange at one end; a ring fixedly mounted within the casing.

at the other end thereof; a tapered cutter extension on the ring including a blade adapted for sharpening a pencil, said blade being proportioned to bite into and grip a pencil when the blade is forced into the surface of the pencil; and a spring positioned in the casing between the ring and flange, said spring being proportioned to grip a pencil at that end of the spring disposed adjacent the flange, the opposite ends of the spring abutting against the ring and flange respectively, the spring being placed under compression when the blade is forced into the pencil, and expanding toward the flange when the blade is disengaged fromthe pencil, to retract .the pencil into the casing.

ALBERT F. STONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 186,777 Watrous Jan. 30, 1877 454,623 Baumgarten June 23, 1891 The compressed convolutions are adapted to nor- 

